Many Nigerians feared dead, missing as boat capsizes off Libya coast

File: Boat accident

Many Nigerians are feared dead after a rubber boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Libya, leaving at least 53 people dead or missing.

This was disclosed by the International Organisation for Migration in a post on its website on Monday.

It said the vessel, which was conveying 55 migrants and refugees of various African nationalities, overturned north of Zuwara, Libya, on Friday.

The IOM said only two Nigerian women were rescued during a search-and-rescue operation conducted by Libyan authorities.

According to IOM, one of the survivors reported losing her husband in the incident, while the other said she lost her two babies when the boat capsized.

“IOM mourns the loss of life in yet another deadly incident along the Central Mediterranean route,” the organisation said, adding that its teams provided emergency medical assistance to the survivors upon disembarkation in coordination with relevant authorities.

Survivor accounts revealed that the boat departed Al-Zawiya, Libya, at about 11:00 p.m. on February 5. Approximately six hours into the journey, the vessel began taking in water before capsizing. Punch